artificial skin

Any synthetic material designed to replace skin lost through burns or trauma, which ideally would have the physicochemical properties of skin—e.g., optimal ‘wetting’ and ‘draping’—leading to adherence, decreased bacterial invasion and fluid loss, eliciting cellular and vascular invasion, and synthesising a dermal matrix while biodegrading the artificial graft

artificial skin

Critical care Any synthetic material designed to have the physicochemical properties of skin–eg, optimal 'wetting' and 'draping,' leading to adherence, ↓ bacterial invasion and fluid loss, eliciting cellular and vascular invasion, synthesizing a dermal matrix while biodegrading the artificial graft. See Burns, Dermagraft-TC, Integra Artificial Skin. Cf Split-thickness graft, Spray-on-skin.

skin

(skin)

STRUCTURE OF THE SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE

The organ that forms the outer surface of the body. It shields the body against infection, dehydration, and temperature changes; provides sensory information about the environment; manufactures vitamin D; and excretes salts and small amounts of urea.

Skin consists of two major divisions: the epidermis and the dermis. Depending on its location and local function, skin varies in terms of its thickness, strength, presence of hair, nails, or glands, pigmentation, vascularity, nerve supply, and keratinization. Skin may be classified as thin and hairy or thick and hairless (glabrous). Thin hairy skin covers most of the body. Glabrous skin covers the surface of the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and flexor surfaces of the digits. See: illustration; hair for illus; burn; dermatitis; dermis; eczema; epidermis; rash

alligator skin

Severe scaling of the skin with formation of thick plates resembling the hide of an alligator. See: ichthyosis

bronzed skin

deciduous skin

elastic skin

foreign bodies in the skin

Objects that enter the skin accidentally or are inserted deliberately. The areas involved are cleaned carefully. Foreign material can be removed carefully piece by piece or by vigorous swabbing with gauze or a brush and a soapy solution. A sterile dressing should be used.

For removal of a small foreign body, the area is cleaned first with mild soap and warm water. A clean needle can be sterilized by heating it to a dull or bright red in a flame; this can be done with a single match. Because both ends of the needle get hot, it is wise to hold the far end in a nonconductor such as a fold of paper or a cork. The needle is allowed to cool. A black deposit on its surface should be disregarded; it is sterile carbon and does not interfere with the procedure. The needle is introduced at right angles to the direction of the sliver, and the sliver is lifted out. Most people attempt to stick the needle in the direction of the foreign body and consequently thrust many times before they manage to lift the sliver out. When the sliver is removed, an antiseptic is applied and the wound covered with a sterile dressing. Tetanus antitoxin or a tetanus booster may be required, depending on the history of immunization.

glabrous skin

Skin that does not contain hair follicles, such as that over the palms and soles.

In this version, the sandwich's middle was a flat rubber film that wasn't so sensitive, but combining the technologies and spotting the resulting sandwiches onto another material could yield sensitive, stretchable artificial skin.

The farmer here, Ted Fink, was burned over 93 percent of his body and required his wife, Rhoda, to make horrendous decisions alone, choosing to use artificial skin to save his life while he was in a coma for six months.

Because they meet medical guidelines for critical design, component tolerance and sterilizability, plastic polymers will aid in the production of artificial hearts, artificial bones, artificial skin and artificial organs.

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